French President seeks tougher laws to tackle anti-semitism, hate speech

French President Francois Hollande has proposed tougher laws on anti-semitism and racist crimes.

During a dinner organized by a Jewish group in Paris, Hollande emphasized that Jews were safe and welcome in France. The French president also observed that Muslims were increasingly coming under attack.

He said he was in favor of “faster [and] more effective sanctions” to tackle hate speech.

Hollande’s remarks come after last month’s terror attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket in Paris that killed 17 people.